Polymer/hydrophilic silica oil blend

Abstract

A polymer/hydrophilic silica blend is provided comprising (a) a thickening polymer powder, comprising (i) structural units of C 4-8 alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer; (ii) structural units of (meth)acrylic acid monomer, and (iii) structural units of a specialized associative monomer of formula (I) wherein R 1 is a linear saturated C 10-20 alkyl group; and n is an average of 20 to 28; and (b) a hydrophilic silica powder; wherein the weight ratio of hydrophilic silica powder to thickening polymer powder in the polymer/hydrophilic silica blend is 1:9 to 9:1. Also provided are personal care compositions containing same and methods of using same.

We claim: 
     
       1. A polymer/hydrophilic silica blend comprising:
 (a) a thickening polymer powder, wherein the thickening polymer powder comprises:
 (i) 84 to 95 wt %, based on weight of the thickening polymer powder, of structural units of C 4-8  alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer; 
 (ii) 0.1 to 6 wt %, based on weight of the thickening polymer powder, of structural units of (meth)acrylic acid monomer, and 
 (iii) 1 to 10, based on weight of the thickening polymer powder, of structural units of a specialized associative monomer of formula (I) 
 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           wherein R 1  is a linear saturated C 10-20  alkyl group; and n is an average of 20 to 28; and 
         
         (b) a hydrophilic silica powder; 
       
       wherein the weight ratio of hydrophilic silica powder to thickening polymer powder in the polymer/hydrophilic silica blend is 1:9 to 9:1. 
     
     
       2. A personal care composition, comprising:
 (a) a polymer/hydrophilic silica blend according to  claim 1 ; 
 (b) a cosmetically acceptable hydrophobic ester oil, wherein the cosmetically acceptable long chain hydrophobic ester oil comprises aliphatic C 8-24  alkyl triglycerides; and 
 (c) a cosmetically acceptable surfactant. 
 
     
     
       3. The personal care composition of  claim 2 , wherein the cosmetically acceptable hydrophobic ester oil is selected from the group consisting of almond oil, andiroba oil, apricot kernel oil, argan oil, avacado oil, babassu oil, borage oil, canola oil, castor oil, coca butter, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, crambe oil, cupuacu butter, evening primrose, grape seed oil, hazelnut oil, hybrid safflower oil, illipe butter, Japan wax, jatropha oil, jojoba oil, kokhum butter, linseed oil, mango butter, meadowfoam oil, milk fat, olive oil, ongokea oil, palm kernel oil, palm oil, peanut oil, poppyseed oil, rapeseed oil, rice bran oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, shea butter, soybean oil, sunflower oil, sweet almond oil, tallow, tung oil, walnut oil, wheat germ oil, veronia oil and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       4. The personal care composition of  claim 2 , wherein the C 4-8  alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer is selected from the group consisting of at least one of ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, n-butyl (meth)acrylate, iso-butyl (meth)acrylate and t-butyl (meth)acrylate. 
     
     
       5. The personal care composition of  claim 2 , wherein 40 to 90 wt % of the structural units of C 4-8  alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer are derived from a C 4  alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer and wherein 10 to 60 wt % are derived from a C 8  (meth)acrylate monomer. 
     
     
       6. The personal care composition of  claim 5 , wherein the C 4  alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer is iso-butyl methacrylate and the C 8  alkyl (meth)acrylate is ethylhexyl methacrylate. 
     
     
       7. The personal care composition of  claim 2 , wherein the thickening polymer comprises 3 to 10 wt %, based on weight of the thickening polymer powder, of structural units of the specialized associative monomer of formula (I), wherein R 1  is a linear saturated C 12-18  alkyl group. 
     
     
       8. The personal care composition of  claim 2 , further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of abrasives, absorbents, fragrances, pigments, colorings/colorants, essential oils, skin sensates, astringents, preservatives, anti-caking agents, foam builders, antifoaming agents, antimicrobial agents, antioxidants, binders, biological additives, buffering agents, bulking agents, chelating agents, chemical additives, cosmetic astringents, cosmetic biocides, denaturants, drug astringents, external analgesics, film formers, opacifying agents, pH adjusters, propellants, reducing agents, sequestrants, skin bleaching and lightening agents, skin conditioning agents, skin soothing agents, skin treating agents, vitamins, silicones, fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       9. The personal care composition of  claim 2 , wherein the cosmetically acceptable surfactant comprises a blend of anionic surfactants and non-ionic surfactants. 
     
     
       10. A method of treating skin or hair, comprising:
 providing a personal care composition according to  claim 2 , and 
 applying the personal care composition to at least one of skin and hair.